A New Kind Of Alchemy - Exhibition Catalogue

C I A

C u l t u r a l I n t e l l e c t u a l A s s o c i a t i o n

L a g o s

Exhibition Catalogue

A New Kind of Alchemy

Visual Art Exhibition curated by Michael Enejison

An investigation of the synthesis of materiality and ideologies, within the

context of Nigeria yet relevant to a wider audience.

Bruce Onobrakpeya

Damilola Tejuosho

Dare Adenuga

Dilomprizulike (Junkman from Africa)

Ezennia Onyinye

Muyiwa Akinwolere

Ola-Dele Kuku

Olanrewaju Tejuoso

Omokayode Bakare

Phillips Nzekwe

Tobi Animashaun

Strict COVID - 19 compliance

Sunday 21 February - Sunday 28 February 2021

'Untitled' 59 Raymond Njokwu St. S.W. Ikoyi, Lagos. 0809 515 9999

C I A


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Contents

Bruce Onobrakpeya

Damilola Tejuosho

Dare Adenuga


Ezennia Onyinye

Muyiwa Akinwolere

Ola-Dele Kuku

Olanrewaju Tejuoso

Omokayode Bakare

Phillips Nzekwe

Tobi Animashaun

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Curators Statement - Michael Enejison

At different times people and cultures have been obsessively engaged with

finding answers to the difficult questions of identity and destination.

Questions and Problems are two instigators of civilization. Finding

solutions and answers advance every civilization building upon the

progress of the preceding one.

In A NEW KIND OF ALCHEMY, artists will use the phenomenon of alchemy -

an early form of science, as a metaphor for discovery and solution. Those

who practiced it wished to turn base metals like iron and copper into

precious ones like gold and mercury. They also wanted to discover

medicine that would cure all ailments and keep people forever young. The

earliest origin of Alchemy can be traced to Egypt in the first few centuries

of AD. It spread to other parts in Africa, Europe, Asia and the Middle East,

although sometimes originating independently. The earliest alchemists

associated their practice with mysticism, esoteric knowledge, spirituality

and keenly guarded their discoveries and path to knowledge. The legacy of

the practice of alchemy was the establishment of a way to see and a way of

thinking. Alchemy also led to the birth of chemistry as we know it today. In

pursuing this, artisans and artists were engaged to forge apparatus and

design symbols for cult communication. Artists and artisans became

alchemists.

This exhibition will explore how artists in our time have attempted to

formulate answers and solutions to modern challenges like - rapidly

evolving technologies, climate change and the best political adjustments

for social justice. What indigenous ideologies, processes, thought and

principles can be adopted to solve these universal puzzles? Alchemy

becomes a backdrop for how artists go about this quest- explore, tell

stories, dream, imagine and create.


'Untitled' 59 Raymond Njokwu St. S.W. Ikoyi, Lagos. 0809 515 9999 1

Bruce Onabrakpeya

Recycled Plastic Auto-Parts

Bruce Onobrakpeya is an experimental artist that has worked in the mediums of

painting, prints, sculpture and installation. Born in 1938 he studied art at the

Nigerian College of Arts Science and Technology , Zaria.

He has been artist in residence in institutions in USA, Zimbabwe and

Nigeria. He illustrated works of iconic authors such as Cyprian Ekwensi, Chinua

Achebe and Kola Onadipe. He has exhibited at the Tate Modern in London, the

National Museum of African Art of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.

and the Malmö Konsthall in Malmö, Sweden. Since 1998 he has organized the

Harmattan Workshop series, an artist forum which holds annually in Agbara-Otor,

Nigeria.



Damilola Tejuosho

Surfers Stroke 1

Nails on Wood 48" x 32"

Surfers Stroke 11

Nails on Wood 48" x 32"

Damilola Tejuosho is a self taught visual artist born in 1984, in Lagos. Being an avid

lover of mathematics, Damilola started off creating string art pieces and metal

screws portraits on wood. She explored geometrical elements such as lines and

shapes as well as concepts of symmetry in her earlier works. In 2018, Damilola began

using nails and oil-based spray paints to create abstract art. She sees nails as

versatile objects with immense visual potentials in spite of their natural

mundaneness. Damilola is inspired by the works of John Bisbee, Alexis Peskine and

Uecker Gunther who are renowned artists working with nails. Having grown up in the

vibrant city of Lagos, her work is influenced by a rich assortment of dramatic events

and memories of past experiences. Damilola’s works have been sold at fairs and at

Rele Art Gallery in Lagos. She lives in Lagos with her family where she continues to

create artworks in her private home studio.



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Dare Adenuga

Panic Landing

Rope Sculpture on Terrazzo Base

51" x 30" x 20"

Liberty or Servitude

Rope Sculpture on Terrazzo Base

39" x 14" x 10"

Dare Adenuga is a visual artist born in Lagos, Nigeria. He studied art at the

prestigious Yaba College of Technology where he took part in various student

exhibitions such as Beautiful Nigeria at the National Museum Onikan and

Olokun Art festival in Badagry before graduating in 2011. Since graduation, Dare has

practiced as a full-time studio artist. His works cut across humane traits of

character with reference to the benevolent and malevolent influences on their

environs. He has participated in several exhibitions and different Art projects

such as "The Root" at the National museum, Onikan; "It's not furniture" by the Temple

Management Company and the Gen Y Exhibition at the International Exhibition

Centre in Abuja. In 2017 Dare emerged as an Art X Price Finalist. He lives and works in

Lagos



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Dilomprizulike

Waiting For Bus

Dil Humphrey-Umezulike, better known as Dilomprizulike (born 1960 in Enugu,

Nigeria) is a contemporary artist working in sculpture, performance and painting

who has adopted the moniker "The Junkman From Africa". He studied art at

the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria, and has an MFA from the University of

Dundee, Scotland. He has been artist in residence at various institutions including

the Artist Village in Detroit, United States , the Victoria and Albert Museum in

London (2005), the Scottish Sculpture Workshop in Lumsden, Scotland, and the

Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung in Bonn, Germany. He is actively involved in delivering talks

about unconventional creative processes and a the the transcendental roles of

the artist in the society. He currently lives in the coastal suburbs of Lagos

where he runs the Junkyard.



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Ezennia Onyinye

Conception

Thread installation

44" x 39"

Ezennia Onyinye artistically known as Zennia is Nigerian

artist pioneering the string art medium. She has previously expressed herself

using other mediums such social/documentary photography, visual communication

design, serigraphy on tiled perspex. Her works are born out of her personal

experience which she uses to advocate for women empowerment. Her exploration

with sound and light won her a price of originality in the 2014 Life in my city art

festival by Alliance France. In 2016 she was the overall winner at the same festival

using her string art process She was also finalist of the 2018 and 2019 Spanish

Embassy Art Competition.



Muyiwa Akinwolere

Gidan Kwano 1

Diptych

25.5" x 21.5" each

Gidan Kwano 2

Diptych

25.5" x 21.5" each

Muyiwa Akinwolere is a contemporary Nigerian artist. He studied art

in the Obafemi Awolowo University, in 1999. He was born in 1976 at Lawanson area of

Lagos. Muyiwa's artistic journey began from the ancient town of Oshogbo,where he

had his primary education.There, he became fascinated with the works of Suzanne

Wenger and a number of artists of the Osogbo art school. Muyiwa's early practice

was centered around Yoruba mythology and the workings of the supernatural.

Recently, he has been concerned with migration, social inequality and the politics of

resource control. Muyiwa incorporates a combination of dyes and recycled materials

in his mixed- media process. In 2016 he was artist in resident with Ventures Africa

and 2020 artist in resident with Afrika Now, Lagos. Muyiwa has exhibited locally and

internationally. He lives and works from Badagry where he set up The Fringe studio.



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Ola-Dele Kuku

‘The Boundary Condition’ I/IV

(2004) 109cm / 133cm (mixed

media on paper)

‘The Boundary Condition’ II/IV

(2004) 109cm / 133cm (mixed

media on paper)

Ola-Dele Kuku studied at the Southern California Institute of Architecture (SCI-ARC)

in Los Angeles, California, USA and in Vico Morcote, Ticino, Switzerland. His

roots are in Nigeria. He currently lives and works in Brussels. His private practice

(Ola-Dele Kuku Projects), initiated in Milan, Italy in 1990, and focused primarily on

conceptual interventions in architecture with special interest in the philosophy,

theory, and composition. His works have been presented in numerous

international exhibitions, at museums, galleries and fairs, (in group and solo

exhibitions), such as the Politecnico di Milano, Italy ; Nagoya Center, Nagoya,

Japan; Lineart, Ghent, Belgium; World Craft Council, Artistry in Wood – Hannover,

Germany; Design Museum Gent, Belgium; Biennale pour l’Art Contemporain Africain

Dak’ART Dakar, Senegal; International Biennial Design Festival, Sainte-Etienne,

France; Design Museum Gent, Belgium; 7th Flanders Design Triennial, Genk

Belgium. Various works from his projects have been

published extensively, and are in prominent private collections, public institutions

and foundations. He participates as guest speaker, at various international

conferences on architecture, the environment and socio-cultural development. The

architect – artist is presently working on the establishment of ‘Post-Conflict

Rehabilitation’ Programme as an academic course of study in architecture, design,

and art academies



Olanrewaju Tejuoso

Sorrow, Tears and Blood

Variable Dimensions

The New Statue of Liberty

Variable Dimensions

Olanrewaju Tejuoso was born in Abeokuta, Ogun State of Nigeria where he also

currently lives and works. He is a painter, performance and installation artist. He

studied Fine Art at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. He has exhibited throughout

Nigeria as well as internationally in Senegal, Italy and the USA. He is passionate

about the environment and society. He has had artist residencies in Philadelphia,

USA and Yogyakata, Indonesia. In 2018 he won the Prix Revelation in Dakar, Senegal.

Olanrewaju uses trashed materials to call attention to the imbalances being exerted

by man’s domestic and industrial activities on the earth’s ecosystem.



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Omokayode Bakare

Beyond The Shoreline

Found objects, burlap sack,

wooden combs and Acrylic

48 x 60 inches II

Beyond The Shoreline

Found objects, burlap sack,

wooden combs and Acrylic

48 x 60 inches II

Omokayode Bakare is a studio artist who works in drawing, painting and mixed

media. He studied at Yaba college of Technolgy. He has collaborated widely with

artists such as Rom Isichei and Peju Alatishe and institutions to execute large scale

art projects. His studio based in Abeokuta practice develops works that probe how

modernity and disruption affects history and culture.



Phillips Nzekwe

Curious mind series.

Eco-friendly wood

120 x 120 x 45 cm

Curious mind series.

Eco-friendly wood

100 x 70 x 25 cm

Phillips Nzekwe (B.1981) Jos, Nigeria currently lives and works in Lagos and Asaba.

Trained at the Delta State University (2002) and University of Benin (2007)

where he obtained a Bachelor's and a Master's degree in Fine Art respectively. His

artistic technique which is inspired by traditional African art and architecture,

tropical colours and contemporary 3D animated images is used to investigate

complex human behavioural patterns within societal context. He thinks himself a

student of nature. Nzekwe has several commissioned projects, a Triangle Trust

artist in residence (2012-2013), Ebedi artist/ writer in residence (2015). He has

exhibited locally and internationally. His recent solo show held at National Museum

Lagos (2019). His works are in prestigious private and institutional collections like

the Gulf bank Qatar, and Delta State House of assembly complex Asaba amongst

others.



Oluwatobi Animashaun

Communicado - Iranu Series 3

Mixed media on canvas

48" x 48"

Communicado - Iranu Series 4

Mixed media on canvas

48 x 48"

Oluwatobi Animashaun’s artistic practice is bolstered by a conviction that

the creative temperament is sustained by consistent nurturing. His works spans

paintings, drawings, mixed media and recently sculpture. Tobi’s work explores the

psychological and sociological dimensions of human existence. Formerly

employed in a Public Relations agency, he holds bachelor of Art degree in English

Language from the University of Lagos (2008). His works have been featured by the

Lagos biennial satellite site,Retro Africa: Generation and Arthouse Contemporary

Art Auction. Tobi lives and works in Lagos.



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C I A


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Visual Art Exhibition curated by Michael Enejison

Produced by:

Cultural Intellectual Association - Lagos

www.cialagos.org

@cia_lagos

&

A Whitespace Creative Agency

www.aw-ca.com

@whitespacelagos

Strict COVID - 19 compliance



C I A


L a g o s

Price List (N)

Bruce Onobrakpeya

Untitled

Untitled

Damilola Tejuosho

Surfers Stroke I

Surfers Stroke II

Dare Adenuga

Panic Landing

Servitude or Liberty


City Girls

Ezennia Onyinye

Conception

Migrants

Muyiwa Akinwolere

Gidan Kwano Series

Warrior Shields

Ola-Dele Kuku

Noah's Grief (diptych)

The Boundary Condition (diptych)

Olanrewaju Tejuoso

Sorrow Tears and Blood

The New Symbol Of Liberty

Omokayode Bakare

Beyond The Shoreline I

Beyond The Shoreline II

Phillips Nzekwe

Curious Mind I

Curious Mind II

Tobi Animashaun

Communicado Iranu III

Communicado Iranu IV

P.O.A

P.O.A

400,000

400,000

900,000

900,000

Not For Sale

430,000

680,000

600,000

600,000

3,800,000 each

6,250,000 each

2,500,000

2,500,000

600,000

600,000

800,000

350,000

700,000

700,000



A New Kind Of Alchemy - Exhibition Catalogue

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